Canadian financier Mark Wiseman has officially been selected by Prime Minister Mark Carney to take up Canada’s most important diplomatic role as ambassador to the United States as the country prepares for tough USMCA trade talks, two sources say.

The appointment was approved by cabinet on Thursday, the sources said. The Prime Minister is to make the announcement in the coming days.

The Globe and Mail is not naming the sources who were not authorized to discuss cabinet discussions.

Mr. Wiseman, 55, replaces Kirsten Hillman who served in Washington since 2017, including the past six years as ambassador.